Women'Sports Wire

(February 13, 2001)

Conchita Martinez Is Latest Top Five Player
To Enter 2001 Family Circle Cup
Tournament's Debut in Charleston to Feature Four of the Top 5 Players in the World

CHARLESTON, SC (February 13, 2001) Two-time Family Circle Cup champion
Conchita Martinez will be returning to the Family Circle Cup for the tenth time in her career this April. The Family Circle Cup scheduled for April 14-22nd at the Tennis Centre at Daniel Island will mark the tournament's 29th year in women's professional tennis. Currently ranked No. 5 in the world, Martinez will join three other Top 5 players Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport and Monica Seles. Adding more star power to the player field will be this year's Australian Open champion Jennifer Capriati, Mary Pierce and Anna Kournikova.

"Conchita has maintained an amazing level of tennis throughout her career. We are proud of the commitment she makes to the Family Circle Cup year after year," stated Lisa Thomas, Family Circle Cup Tournament Director. "With the addition of Conchita, a past champion and a semifinalist last year, four of the Top 5 players in the world are now entered, Charleston should be witness to an amazing week of women's professional tennis."

She has been playing professional tennis for over fourteen years and in that time has earned the respect of her fellow players. Martinez has won 32 Sanex WTA Tour singles titles and surpassed $9 million in career prize money in 2000. In 1994 she won one of the most prestigious titles in tennis, the Wimbledon Championships. Her 2000 highlights included a tour title in Germany and a finalist appearance in three other tournaments including Roland Garros. She has now reached the final of three separate Grand Slam events. Not only is she one of seven players in 28 years to have won the singles championship more than once, but also has the distinction of winning both the doubles title as well. In 1998 she captured her first Family Circle Cup doubles championship with partner Patricia Tarabini becoming one of six former champions to win a doubles trophy as well.

The Family Circle Cup, celebrating 29 years in women's professional tennis, is one of the longest running women's professional tennis events in the United States. A week of world-class tennis starts April 14-22nd at the Tennis Centre at Daniel Island. Tickets are now on sale for this exciting week of women's professional tennis and fans can choose from a variety of ticket packages. For more information on tickets, please call 1-800-677-2293 or (843) 534-2400. To check out the latest news on the Family Circle Cup contact our tournament's official website at www.familycirclecup.com http://www.familycirclecup.com.

[Media Contacts: Robin Reynolds (407)282-8976 Fax: (407) 282-0188, rreynolds@gjusa.com, Jeff Cataffa (843)534-2400 Fax: (843) 723-8355, jcataffa@gjusa.com]